LOCAL authorities must be firm by not issuing certificates of fitness (CFs) to housing developers who failed to
follow guidelines.

Negri Sembilan Mentri Besar Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad said local authorities should not issue CFs if developers did not adhere to guidelines
such as having drains which were smaller than specified.

"It is wrong for developers to cut corners in their housing projects and local authorities must be firm by not issuing CFs to them,'' he said
after presenting lucky draw gifts to house buyers at the 2000 Malaysian Property Expo on Monday.

Isa said developers had a social obligation and should adhere to guidelines so that buyers were not affected.

Developers should ensure that the houses they built were according to the specification set, he said.

"They must be genuine and sincere in wanting to provide quality houses to buyers,'' he said.

It would only cost developers more if they had to repair the houses after handing them over to buyers, he added.

He also urged housing developers to think of their neighbours when conducting earthwork on their projects by ensuring that mudfloods did not occur
in their homes during rainy seasons.

Mudfloods would not occur if developers followed guidelines set by the local authorities such as having proper drainage and silt traps, he said.

"Developers in some projects failed to follow the guidelines and mudfloods occurred in their neighbour's housing estates,'' he added.